AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass hockey team took a 3-0 lead into the third period, but defending national champion #3 Boston College managed to notch four in the stanza and followed up the game-winner in overtime to hand the Minutemen a 5-4 setback in front of 7,678 fans at the Mullins Center on Friday evening. With the loss, the Minutemen fall to 1-1-0 overall (0-1-0 HEA), while the Eagles improve to 1-1-0 (1-1-0 HEA).
Senior co-captain Rocco Carzo scored twice for UMass, posting his first career multi-goal game, while sophomore Mike Busillo notched his first collegiate point with an assist on the Minutemen's opening tally. Six additional UMass players logged points in the contest, as well.
Fresh off a successful kill of a five-minute major, the Minutemen began the scoring 8:46 into the opening period. Sophomore Oleg Yevenko found Busillo at the point and Busillo's shot was redirected by Carzo in front.
UMass added another tally at the 3:43 mark of the second to go up 2-0. Converting on the power play, junior Conor Sheary fed Troy Power in the slot and Power quickly touched the puck over to Conor Allen at the doorstep for the score.
Just under 10 minutes later, the Minutemen then stretched the advantage to 3-0. Off a Boston College turnover, redshirt sophomore Steven Guzzo won the puck along the boards and found Carzo in alone for his second of the night.
However, the Eagles came out of the intermission firing and got on the board with a Bill Arnold tally just 1:11 into the third. Destry Straight then cut the deficit to 3-2 with his unassisted score at 8:26.
Senior Darren Rowe gave UMass back its two-goal cushion, scoring from senior Kevin Czepiel 9:35 into the frame. BC responded, though, with a pair from Pat Mullane in the final 3:16 to force overtime.
Then with the extra period winding down, Johnny Gaudreau swatted the puck home under the crossbar at the 3:37 mark.
Shots favored Boston College, 42-24 while the Eagles won 42 of the 77 faceoffs. After UMass earned a slight advantage in attempts in the first period, 10-8 Boston College notched 13-8 and 16-5 leads in the second and third stanzas, respectively before totaling a 5-1 margin in overtime.
In his first game of the season, sophomore netminder Steve Mastalerz stopped 37 Boston College shots for the Minutemen while suffering the loss. Parker Milner tallied 20 saves between the posts for the Eagles.
UMass will be back in action with its first road contest of the season, on Friday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Boston University.